Mrs. Marceline Shera elects as President of Catholic Sabha Milagres Cathedral unit for the year 2025
By Richard DSouza
Bellevision Media Network
Udupi : Mrs Merceline Shera Pinto elected as President of Catholic Sabha Milagres Cathedral Unit for the year 2025 and Mr. Nelson D’Souza elected as General Secretary during the annual election held at Milagres Cathedral Tri-centenary Hall, Kallianpur on Sunday, February 2, 2025.
Prior to the election, usual invocation prayer was held which the unit Spiritual Director Mngr. Ferdinand Gonsalves, Rector and Vicar General of Udupi diocese, Mr. Reginald Lewis, President, Mrs. Marina Lewis Secretary, and other office bearers conducted the prayers.
The outgoing president Mr. Reginald Lewis which still in office up to March 31 extended a warm welcome to the Spiritual Director, outgoing office bearers, members, and specially Election officer, Mr Gerald Rodrigues, former president of Catholic Sabha Shirva unit and Hon. Treasurer of Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh and Mr. Lawrence D’Souza, former President of Catholic Sabha Mudarangadi unit and Shirva Deanery former office bearer present to observe the election process.
In his address, Mr Reginald Lewis expressed gratitude to the all members and concerned for his dedicated team for their unwavering support and contributions during his presidential tenure which Milagres Cathedral Catholic Sabha won several awards in Deanery level as well as in diocesan central committee unit which includes highest collection of lucky dip coupons in the diocese as well as in other categories.
Milagres Cathedral Catholic Sabha known for being one of the most vibrant and very active units in the Kallianpur Deanery, Udupi diocese as well as undivided Mangalore diocese. Dr. Gerald Pinto and Mr. Walter Pinto was the Presidents’ of the undivided Mangalore Diocese. Dr. Gerald Pinto served as chief editor of ‘Amcho Sabdesh’ monthly of undivided Mangalore diocese and also was responsible to establish Catholic Sabha’s one of the most vibrant and most popular running projects of Manasa Rehabilitation Center, Pamboor. Presently, Dr. Gerald Pinto has been serving as a Director of Laity Commission for Udupi Diocese executing socially significant projects and hosting numerous units, deanery and diocesan level programmes as well. Mr Walter Pinto being a President served to strengthen in all the way other for the Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh and struggled for the cause of Community against the government at Mangalore as well as in Udupi. Catholic Sabha Milagres unit boasts over 1.100 members which have a proud legacy of producing dynamic leaders for the diocese as well as in the political field also.
During the annual election process, the Election Officer, Mr Gerald Rodrigues, outlined the election guidelines and responsibilities of the president and executive committee office bearers. After a transparent and efficient election process monitored by Mr Lawrence D’Souza, Mudarangadi, the following Executive Office Bearers were elected unanimously for the term April 2025 to March 2026:
1. Hon. President : Mrs Marceline Shera Pinto
2. Immediate Past President : Mr. Reginald Lewis
3. President-Designate : Mr. Stephen D’Almeida
4. Vice President : Felciana Lewis,
5. Hon. General Secretary : Mr. Nelson D’Souza
6. Joint Secretary : Mrs. Mabel D’Souza
7. Hon. Treasurer : Mr. Alphonse D’Silva
8. Joint Treasurer : Mrs. Myna Lewis
9. Amcho Sandesh Representative : Mrs. Irene Menezes
10. Political Awareness Convener : Mrs. Prema Lewis
11. Internal Auditor : Mr.Raymond Crasto
12. Govt. Facilities Convener : Mrs. Marina Lewis
13. Justice & Peace Commission Convener : Mrs. Precilla Lewis
14. Interreligious Dialogue Commission Convener : Mr. Godfrey Lewis
15. Labour Commission Convener: Mr. Joseph D’Souza
16. Volunteers : Mr. Melwyn Sequiera, Mrs Catherine Rodrigues and Mrs. Nancy Martis(Amcho Sandesh)
Mngr. Ferdinand Gonsalves, in his inspirational message, emphasized the qualities of Catholic laity leadership of the Milagres Catholic Sabha in undivided Mangalore diocese who served and contributed a lot for the community. The laity leadership in the church produced a lot of contribution in every aspect. He gave gratitude to election process officials who arrived from Shirva and Mudarangadi of Shirva Deanery and commended the outgoing team for their dedicated service. He extended his best wishes to the incoming executive committee officials.
The outgoing secretary Marina Lewis proposed a vote of thanks and conveyed her best wishes to the incoming executive committee officials.